Josh Hart delivers a momentum-shifting pass as shooting slump lingers
josh hart turned a tense fourth-quarter moment into a highlight that grabbed attention beyond the floor, punctuating a game against Toronto with a perfectly timed assist that left Knicks legend Stephon Marbury visibly stunned on social media.
Josh Hart’s fourth-quarter dime that flipped the moment
The Knicks found themselves in a tight spot late against Toronto, with the score at 95-93 in the fourth quarter and New York needing a play to create breathing room. In that sequence, Josh Hart received a pass from Anunoby, took a brief look at the defense, and fired a powerful two-hand, one-bounce pass directly into the chest of Mikal Bridges. Bridges gathered it cleanly and finished with a straight dunk, a quick swing that helped New York create separation in the moment.
The pass’s precision and timing sparked immediate buzz, reaching Stephon Marbury. Marbury, known as “Starbury, ” posted a raw reaction on his Instagram Story, exclaiming in a video shared on social media: “You see that dime? By Josh Hart?”
What the box score showed in the 111-95 win over Toronto
The Knicks went on to a 111-95 victory over Toronto. Josh Hart finished the game with 12 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, described as one of his more balanced performances this season.
While the highlight assist drew the loudest reaction, the overall line reflected impact across multiple areas. The seven assists, in particular, aligned with the late-game pass that set up Bridges’ dunk during the fourth-quarter pressure point.
How Josh Hart is staying effective through a shooting slump
Scoring has not been the main subject around Josh Hart recently, as the context around his play includes a notable shooting slump: he has made 14 of 32 attempts over the last three games. Even so, the broader theme has been his effort to remain effective when shots are not falling.
After the Spurs game, Hart summed up that approach in a blunt postgame reflection: “I ain’t make a d— thing, so I got into something else, ” he said. “That’s all I’m thinking about. I think for me it’s just trying to be effective. ”
Against Toronto, the late assist that drew Marbury’s reaction served as a clear example of that mindset in action—creating a decisive play without needing a scoring burst to define the moment.
